Cheap Eats 2010: Ray’s the Classics Lounge

Why go: One of the great pleasures and values of the area dining scene is chowing down on a ten-ounce prime-beef patty in the front room of meat maverick Michael Landrum’s supper-club-style restaurant. And the rest of the modest menu is nearly as appealing, proof that it’s possible to have sophistication without a big bill.

What to get: The best crab bisque this side of the Eastern Shore; iceberg lettuce with blue-cheese dressing and bacon; au poivre burger with white cheddar; Landrum’s take on deviled eggs, with steak tartare subbing for whipped yolks; Key-lime pie as rich and creamy as it is tangy.

Best for: A night of indulgence and stylishness without the high cost; pre- and post-movie dining (the AFI Silver Theatre is across the street).

Insider tip: For lovers of retro, the bar serves—in addition to wine, Champagne, beer, and soft drinks from the tap—bottles of RC Cola, a fitting chaser for the food.

Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Logan Circle.